She wasn’t imagining it. Gideon was behaving strangely. But even if he’d heard something, she could convince him he was wrong. She knew how to play a mark. He wasn’t exactly a mark, but she could play him just the same. She had to.
David was escorting the general out, leaving Thornton as their only guest. Mrs. Vanderslice moved to attend to him, inviting him to join the rest of them for cards. The thought of socializing with Thornton over a card table made Elizabeth want to scream, but to her relief, she heard him say he also had another engagement and wouldn’t be able to stay.
Her relief lasted only a moment, however, since Thornton decided he needed to speak to her one more time before he left. For once, she was thankful for Gideon’s presence.
“What a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Miles,” Thornton said with his phony smile. How could a smile make someone look more evil?
“You are too kind, and thank you again for your assistance, Mr. Thornton.”
“This deal with the general will more than repay me, if it goes through.”
She heard the warning. She only hoped Gideon did not.
“It will go through,” Gideon said. “I think the general is as eager as you are.”
“Then why was he so disappointed?” Thornton made no attempt to hide his anger now that the general was gone.
“Because he wants you to sell him even more rifles so he can pay you even more money.” And Gideon made no attempt to hide his impatience. “Most men would be thrilled.”
“I’ll be thrilled when the deal is closed.”
David was back, and he came straight over to them. “The general seemed very pleased. He said he looks forward to doing business with us.”
“Don’t spend your fee just yet, Vanderslice,” Thornton said.
David refused to be discouraged. “I understand your concern, Thornton, but I’m sure we’ll find more rifles for the general.”
“You mean I will,” Thornton said. “And don’t bother to offer your help. I wouldn’t trust you not to bypass me and sell directly to the general.”
“I can see why you’ve been so successful in your business dealings, Thornton,” Gideon said.
Thornton obviously missed the sarcasm in Gideon’s tone. “You’d do well to follow my example, Bates. Your family fortune could use some fattening up, couldn’t it?”
His smirk told Elizabeth he thought he’d insulted Gideon, but he’d underestimated his victim.
“I prefer to get by on less and maintain my belief in my fellow man.”
“More fool you, then.”
“Thornton, really,” David said in exasperation. As host, he couldn’t stand by while his guests insulted one another, but he couldn’t afford to alienate Thornton, either. “We can work this out. I have contacts, and—”
“And if you hear of anyone selling rifles, I’m sure you’ll let me know. Meanwhile, I’ll be taking care of my own business.”
“And you’ll let me know when you’re ready to close the deal?” David said a little anxiously.
This time Thornton’s smile was pure evil. “Only because the general would probably insist on involving you, but don’t worry, you’ll get everything you have coming to you.”
With that, Thornton turned and walked out.
“I warned you about him,” Gideon told David.
“I’m sorry you had to see that, my dear,” David said to Elizabeth.
“So am I,” she said quite honestly.
“Elizabeth, are you all right?” Anna exclaimed, hurrying to her side. “You’re white as a sheet.”
“Am I?” Elizabeth asked, hoping it wasn’t true. Thornton’s little tantrum shouldn’t have disturbed her so much. With any luck, she wouldn’t have to see him again, but luck wasn’t something she counted on. “I’m just a little tired. Did your mother say we were going to play cards?”
“Yes, but I don’t know what we can play with five players. Happy Families perhaps?”
They all laughed at the prospect of playing the silliest of card games, breaking the tension Thornton had left behind.
“If Elizabeth isn’t feeling well, perhaps she would like to go home,” Gideon said.
Why was he suddenly so concerned about her? Elizabeth stared at him, trying to judge his mood, and by that his intention, but he only stared back, his face innocent of expression. No, she wasn’t going home with him just now, and not alone with him at all if she could help it. She would have to avoid being alone with him until the deal with Thornton was done, too. That shouldn’t be too hard, should it?
“Now that you mention it, maybe I will go along,” she said, turning to David. “Darling, would you see me home? I don’t want to ruin Gideon’s evening.”
“Of course, my dear,” David said, glowing because she’d called him darling in front of everyone.
Was Gideon frowning? Of course he was. He didn’t like being outmaneuvered, but that was too bad.
And so she escaped for one night. How many more did she have ahead of her?
? ? ?
The next morning, Elizabeth stayed in bed until she was sure Gideon had left for his office. She would have to plan her days carefully to avoid him. Mrs. Bates was just finishing her breakfast when Elizabeth went down.
“How was your evening?” she asked as Elizabeth served herself from the buffet.
“Very nice. David’s client is a retired general. He was quite impressive. I think Mrs. Vanderslice is smitten.”
“Poor Clarissa would love to remarry.” Obviously, Mrs. Bates thought such a notion foolish. “Oh, did I tell you that you’ve been invited to the National Woman’s Party conference?”
“They’re having a conference?”
“Well, it’s not exactly a conference, but the officers and the National Advisory Council are having a meeting, and they are apparently inviting everyone who was jailed to attend as well. I suspect they have some sort of honor for us. The meeting is this weekend, though, so it’s very short notice, but I’m thinking they just decided to invite us.”
Elizabeth didn’t dare leave the city in the middle of everything. “I certainly don’t feel I deserve any honors, but you should go. Where is it?”
“In Washington City. I can’t leave you alone here with Gideon, though. It wouldn’t be proper.”
Elizabeth didn’t dare be alone with him, proper or not. “Couldn’t I stay with the Vanderslices for a few days?”
“Not really, but in any case, I’m not going. I have far too much to do here. Which reminds me, today is the day I volunteer at the hospital, so I will see you at dinner.”
Elizabeth bid her good-bye and finished her breakfast while she thought about being honored for spending time in the workhouse while trying to escape Thornton. The others might deserve it, but she certainly didn’t.
After she finished her breakfast, she wandered into the parlor to see if Gideon had left the newspapers. Anna was coming over later so they could go shopping, and with Mrs. Bates gone, Elizabeth would have a peaceful morning, at least.
She was already in the middle of the room when she realized her mistake. Gideon rose from where he’d been sitting in the corner near the door, out of the way so she wouldn’t see him until it was too late.
“You startled me,” she said in dismay, watching him close the parlor doors behind her.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”